I've had the blessing of attending retreats led by Joan Sutherland Roshi and highly recommend her approach to koans.

Awakend Life founded by Joan Sutherland Roshi is part of the Pacific Zen School started by John Tarrant Roshi, which is an offshoot of the Diamond Sangha started by Robert Aitken Roshi, which is an offshoot of the Sanbo Kyodan line -- hence I've placed this announcement in the Sanbo Kyodan area. But what Joan does is a unique harkening back to the ancients in a modern but timeless revitalization. Extraordinary in my experience.

Practitioners who cultivate the personal realization of buddha knowledge dwell in the bliss of whatever is present and do not abandon their practice. ~Lankavatara Sutra

Cool, Carol. I had to look up Acequis. Spanish, community-operated watercourses. Reminds me of Alan Watts' Tao book The Watercourse Way. It's a beautiful book. I liked their description too:

"And so to have this book is to have a piece of our temple. You become part of thedistribution of that temple through a large field of time and space. This also means thatAcequias and Gates is more than a book in the usual sense, which is why we tried to make it both beautiful and substantial : to reflect the radiance of the koan way, to provide a compelling piece of ritual gear, and to create something that might endure awhile in the world. This is a book meant to be used. This is a book meant to change your life."

Thanks,

John

"Some people think they are enlightened, some people think they are not enlightened." -- Denko